All you woman-lovers, pro-choicers, parents and potential parents should be sure to vote No on Prop 73 next Tuesday, Nov. 8. It's a *constitutional amendment* that would require parents of minors to be notified 48 hours before an abortion, and right now polls show that it's likely to pass. The writers of this proposition make it appeal to the average person by promoting it as something that will increase communication between parents and their teenage daughters. What they really want to do is to prevent girls and other women from having abortions. The language of this amendment defines abortion of a fetus as causing "death of the unborn child, a child conceived but not yet born," which means that state-level court cases regarding abortion rights will use this definition. And since it's a constitutional amendment, legal challenges are not an option.

It's the end of legal abortion in California.

Not only that, but the immediate effects for girls who can't talk to their parents about abortion (for whatever reason) is that they will have a much more difficult time if they get pregnant. Prop 73 allows girls in abusive situations where they can't talk to their parents (for example cases of incest or rape) to appeal to a judge for her right to keep her parents from knowing about her intent to have an abortion. In reality, it's unlikely that a girl in this situation would even know about this possibility, let alone have the courage and support (both emotional and legal) to actually take the issue to court. And for those girls who simply made a mistake in judgement and know their parents would not support their desire to have an abortion, they are unlikely to even explore legal options. It puts these girls in situations where they are forced to choose between unsafe "backalley" abortions, and saying goodbye to their dreams because they have to become a parent.

This Proposition is bad news, and I'm really scared that it'll pass. Seriously, tell everyone you know. More info can be found at:
Campaign for Teen Safety
and NARAL Pro-Choice California: Prop 73 Fact Sheet

I'm volunteering this weekend so if anyone would like more info about volunteering, just let me know.